House of Earth and Blood

Bryce is angry that Hunt withheld this information about Micah. She is also angry that his insistence on taking her to the crime scene has stirred up so many bad memories. She goes for a very long run to clear her head and then dashes inside the White Raven.

When Hunt follows Bryce inside the club, he realizes she intends to meet Juniper there. He tries to prevent her from drinking alcohol, but he realizes that she is only drinking water and has abstained ever since the night Danika died. Bryce is still riled at the angel and walks away from their table while Juniper tries to calm her down. At this point, Ruhn arrives because he got a tip from the owner that his sister is there. A few moments later, without warning, the club explodes.

Bryce throws her body over Juniper to protect her. Incredibly, none of the four are seriously injured. Juniper is furious that Bryce tried to shield her because the faun has already made the Drop, but Bryce hasn’t. Hunt tries to patch up Bryce as best he can.

Ruhn and Hunt speculate that the bombs were set by human followers of Briggs, who is still in prison. As they leave, Ruhn says he wants to visit the library in the gallery basement the next day. He hopes to find some clues about Luna’s Horn there.

Back at Bryce’s apartment, Hunt does a more thorough job of first aid on her wounds. He notices that Bryce never had her leg injury from the night of Danika’s murder magically healed. He realizes she is still punishing herself and thinks:

He understood how it gnawed on bones and blood and the very soul of a person. How nothing could ever make it right. How cutting out the alcohol and the drugs, how refusing to do the thing she loved most—the dancing—still couldn’t make it right. But the words stalled in his throat (277).

Hunt gets food for both of them and plans to sleep in the guest bedroom of Bryce’s flat for as long as the case continues. He reveals to Bryce the deal that Micah offered him for his freedom. The two are developing more sympathy for one other.

The following morning, Juniper breezes into the apartment, using her spare key. She brings pastries as a gesture of apology for the night before. She also informs Bryce that the club owner has hired Fury to kill whoever bombed the White Raven. Hunt announces that he needs to return to headquarters, the Comitium, for a change of clothes. Bryce has decided to accompany him there that afternoon.

Later that same morning, Bryce goes to work, followed by Hunt. Ruhn arrives to get a look at the library. Lehabah now develops a crush on the Fae as well as the angel. She flirts with both of them while Bryce does research on her computer to pinpoint Danika’s whereabouts during her final week. Everyone is surprised to discover that Danika was stationed at Luna’s Temple on the night the Horn was stolen, which might explain why the kristallos attacked her as it searched for the object. Ruhn observes:

But let’s not forget that whoever is summoning the demon to track the Horn—and kill these people—doesn’t have the Horn. Someone else stole it. So we’re essentially looking for two different people: the killer and whoever has the Horn (300).

Ruhn stumbles across a book that says the Horn might be reactivated by Starborn magic, though he doubts any living Fae has enough power to do it. Hunt suggests a visit to the Oracle to get some clarity on the issue. Since both Bryce and Ruhn have had unnerving predictions from the seer in the past, they decline to go along.

When Bryce and Hunt arrive at the Comitium, they accidentally stumble across a reception for the visiting dignitary, Sandriel. This is the first time Hunt has seen his lover’s murderous twin in years.

Shocked by the chance encounter, Hunt stands completely still. Everyone else in the room has knelt in the presence of Micah and Sandriel. Before Hunt’s disrespect becomes apparent, Bryce intervenes and pretends to snap photos of the dignitaries as she steers Hunt towards the elevator. Micah stops them and asks Bryce for a date, which she declines. Hunt flies them home over the city’s rooftops. He is impressed by Bryce’s resourcefulness and her willingness to turn down the most powerful man in the city.

That evening, Bryce and Hunt are about to settle in to watch TV when the angel receives a call from his boss. Micah wants him to assassinate an enemy that night. This is a way for the archangel to remind his subordinate who’s in charge.